We should focus on what unites, not divides

Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, left, and President Barack Obama met Wednesday for a debate at the University of Denver. Mark King writes, "If the flaming rhetoric is left to continue, it ultimately will overshadow the bonds that hold us together as a nation."

Is it just me or have you noticed the barrage of voices shouting from media, prominent leaders in Washington, Occupy Wall Street and discontented citizens sounding the verbiage of class warfare, and at times increasing violence.

It comes in various shapes and forms.

You hear a prevalent conversation pitting the poor against the rich in a tone of fairness, race against race using skin color to exploit and incense the flame of bigotry, the delusional war on women, the demonizing of oil and gas companies and so on.

These are all distractions and devices to divide us as Americans that never address the real issues.

The foundations of our country are under attack and it has started with the enemy of division.

You’ve probably heard the phrase “United We Stand, Divided We Fall.”

A nation divided against itself cannot stand. Such division only makes us weaker, and if the flaming rhetoric is left to continue, it ultimately will overshadow the bonds that hold us together as a nation. Without unity as Americans to hold true to our freedoms and our Constitution we will not prevail as a nation.

We became the United States of America because we agreed and were united in certain principles and values that birthed America, the greatest nation on earth, to escape the tyranny of an oppressive and overzealous freedom restricting British government.

Division breeds jealousy, envy and hatred — and destroys a country. No good thing can come from division.

A city or a kingdom, a nation collectively made up of cities divided against itself, will not stand as scripture reveals. Jesus said the greatest among you would serve one another, lay down his or her life for one another, and teach His wisdom and truth in love.

Let’s live that example.

Let’s agree to disagree and find our commonality. We are all Americans. We are God’s creation and, in Christ, God’s children. Let’s love one another and respect each other. Let’s lift each other up and not tear down. Let’s give each other the benefit of the doubt and not be so quick to judge and condemn. If we are busy attacking and fighting with each other, we will never see or find solutions to the problems we face. The possibility to lose our freedom and country in the process is a real threat.

Let’s hold true to our Constitution and practice our freedom of speech, freedom of religion and the right to assemble peacefully — and protect those rights for everyone whether we agree with another’s viewpoint.

Let’s speak the truth, proclaiming it by the way we live — and stop the hate!

Go vote and vote from your heart.

Mark King lives in Canyon and is employed in a loan department within the insurance industry.

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Question with boldness even the existence of a god; because if there be one he must approve of the homage of reason more than that of blindfolded fear. Thomas Jefferson in a letter to Peter Carr, August 10, 1787

"Let’s hold true to our Constitution and practice our freedom of speech, freedom of religion and the right to assemble peacefully — and protect those rights for everyone whether we agree with another’s viewpoint.

Let’s speak the truth, proclaiming it by the way we live — and stop the hate!

"A single-payer health care plan, a universal health care plan. That's what I’d like to see."-- BH Obama, May 2003.
"I have not said that I was a single-payer supporter."-- BH Obama, Aug. 2009, New Hampshire town hall meeting.

"Holding us together as a nation" necessitates the crushing defeat of leftists at the ballot box at each election. As our current president has demonstrated so well, leftists live to confiscate from those who have, and redistribute it in the form of food stamps, Obama phones and give-aways to Big Solar.

In a time when about half of this country pay no federal income tax, and those (small businesses, families) making more than Obama thinks they should are chastised to "pay their fair share", I say bleep finding our commonality, Mr. King. Crush liberals at the ballot box every time.

And finally, DO NOT vote from you heart as Mr. King implores. Vote from your MIND. Voting from your heart is what got us "hope and change". THINK about what this president has done to this country in 4 short years. I can think of about 5 trillion or more reasons to evict him from the White House.

And by the way, Mr. King... As I recall, Jesus was in no mood to get along and "agree to disagree" with the money changers in the temple. Sometimes, well-focused anger and obstinance is a good thing.